Nail-pointing mechanism.



W. H. JOHNSON.

NAIL POINTING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1914.

.Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

VVlIam H.dohnson,

F/. 7 l/I//T/vfssss #2l/J Mafmw A Tri/5.

1HE MORRIS PEYERS C0 PNoYOvLITHO WASMINL. un. u.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM H. JOHNSON, OF WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO ALBERT H. BRIGI-IAM, OF WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS.

NAIL-POINTING MECHANISM.

Application filed March 27, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VILLIAM II. JOHN- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVhitman, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement .in Nail-Pointing Mechanism, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a speciiication, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has reference to nail making machines and more particularly to a tool for forming the points of nails. y

Cut nails as commonly manufactured have an oblong point commonly known as a chisel point. Such nails are unsatisfactory for certain types of work, as for example, in the manufacture of shoes where the nails are clenched by the driving mechanism. Nails having the so-called chisel point offer different degrees of resistance to bending in different directions and therefore either elench in the direction in which they happen to be driven or twist at the point as they are clenched.

This invention has for an object to provide a device for pointing cut nails in such a manner that the nails will offer equal resistance to bending in different directions and will, therefore, clench in any desired direction.

There are two machines in general use for making cut nails commonly known as the Blanchard and Reed machines. These machines are of the types known as edge gripping and flat gripping, respectively, and this invention has for a further object to provide a pointing tool which may be adapted for use with machines of either type.

Another object is to provide mechanism of this type which may be applied to existing machines and which will not materially increase the cost of manufacture of nails.

Another object is to provide a pointing tool which will also operate to perform the function of the clearers usually used in cut nail machines to release the finished nails after the nail forming operations.

Referring to the drawing in which I have illustrated a selected embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a view in elevation of a pointing tool constructed in accordance with my invention showing diagrammatically certain parts of the machine to which Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 827,747.

the tool is applied. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. .2; Fig. 4L is a sectional view taken on the line Jr-4 Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the dies in closed position; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line (3--6 Fig. 4f; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a nail made by my improved mechanism.

I have shown for the purposes of illustration a device designed particularly for application to a Blanchard machine in which the nails are gripped at the edges by the gripping dies. The particular tool illustrated is designed to take the place of the clearers as usually employed on this machine and is operated by the lever' which usually operates the clearers. The tool besides performing the function of pointing the nail also operates to release the nail from the gripping dies so that the usual clearers are not necessary. The only change necessary in the machine when substituting this tool for the clearers is to re-position the driving cam.

The pointing dies indicated at 1 and 2 are positioned at right angles to the gripping dies as is necessary with edge gripped nails. Accordingly they are normally positioned retracted so that they will not interfere with the movement of the nail blank to position for engagement by the gripping dies after it is cut from the strip of metal. Upon operation the dies move forward to position at the top and bottom of-the nail and are then forced together thereby compressing the point of the nail.

lhe usual lazy knife 3, leader' knife 4, spring bearer 5, heading tool 6, and gripping dies 7 are illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in order to make the operation of the pointing tool more clear.

The pointing dies l and 2 are pivotally connected bv a pivot pin and are mounted in the die carrier in a manner to permit pivotal movement relative to each other and bodily movement longitudinally with respect to the carrier. Springs 10 secured to opposite sides of the carrier press against the rear ends of the dies and thus normally hold the dies in open position. The movement of the dies relative to the carrier is limited by the pivot pin the ends of which project into slots in the carrier. These slots are preferably of a keyhole shape and the Patented Demi, 19:14. i

soA

pivot pin is flattened at its ends to fit therein. 'fhe circular portions of the slots permit the removal of the pivot pin. lt is to be noted that there is no tendency of the pivot pin to rotate while in the round part of the keyhole slot because the dies never move pivotally with respect to each other while the pin is in this position. The die carrier is preferably cylindrical at its rear end and is y mounted in the bore of the clamp 12 so that it may be adjusted to grip the nails at the exact angle desired. The longitudinal position of the carrier relative to the clamp may be adjusted by means of the nut 13 to pro 15 vide for the use of the same tool in making nails of different lengths. lThe clamp is adjustably secured to a post of the machine by means of the nut 14:, extending through the slot 15.

rlhe carrier is centrally bored to receive an operating rod 16, slidably mounted therein. This rod is tapered to provide cam surfaces 17 and 1S engaging the rear ends of the dies and its forward end is provided with a pin g5 19, proj ecting into opposed slots or holes 20 and 21 in the jaws to operatively connect the dies to the rod. The cam surfaces are preferably so formed that the portions which first engage the rear edges of the dies are of a greater taper than the main portion of such surfaces. The object of this is to provide that the cam shall offer comparatively little force tending to move the rear ends of the dies outwardly. The springs 10 therefore will operate to hold the rear ends of the die together and the dies will be moved forwardly without being pivotally operated. When the dies reach their eX- treme forward position and further bodily a@ movement of the dies is arrested by the engagement of the pivot pin in the ends of the key-hole slots, the cam rod will act as a wedge to give the dies an independent closing movement. rlhe dies however, will not grip the nail until the rear portions of the cam surfaces are in engagement with the rear ends of the dies so that sufficient power is provided to close the dies and compress the nail. l prefer to provide an adjustable 5o threaded sleeve or nut 22 on the rear endof the rod and a lock nut 23 whereby the eX- treme forward position of the cam may be varied. By this means the extent to which the nails will be compressed by the pointing dies may be accurately determined.

l have illustrated controlling mechanism for giving movement to the pointing die which causes the dies to move `forwardly to their forward limiting position and then inwardly by an independent movement. It is only essential, however, that the dies should move forwardly and toward each other, and this may be accomplished in a variety of ways.

A spring 24 is positioned between the nut 13 and the nut 23 or between anyy convenient parts to return the cam rod to its rearmost position after operation of the dies. -The rod also withdraws the dies to their rear position by means of the pin and slot connection therewith.

Nails made by my improved mechanisms may have all the advantages of nails as usually manufactured with the additional advantage of symmetrically formed points.

vil() nail it is to be understood that the point may be given any shape desired.

Nails made in accordance with my invention may be used with a concave anvil and by so positioning the anvil that the nails will engage it at one side of its center the nails may be made to clench all in the same direction. This is very important in certain lines of work, especially in the attachment of soles to boots and shoes where the nails should all point toward the center of the soles.

Certain features of the invention will be understood more clearly from a consideration of the operation of the device. rlhe tapered blank is cut from a strip of metal by the lazy and leader knives cooperating with the fixed knife in the usual manner. The blank thus cut is carried downwardly by means of the leader knife and the spring bearer until it is in position to be gripped by the gripping dies 7. These dies then operate to grip the nail, usually compressing the edges of the nail to round them to a certain extent. The heading tool 6, moves forward and forms the head. The operating lever then operates to move the cam rod 4 forward and the pointing dies slide forward until the pivot pin engages the forward end of the slots 11 and then the cam operates to compress the dies about the nail. The nail is thus compressed to form a symmetrical point.

I have illustrated the heading tool as operating somewhat in advance of the pointing tool. This, however, is immaterial as both may operate at the same time. l prefer, however, to so operate the pointing tool that it will continue to grip the nail until after the gripping dies have separated. By thus operating the device the nails do not cling in the gripping dies and, therefore the pointing tool performs the function which the clearers have usually been designed to perform.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described the combination with gripping dies positioned to grip a nail blank, of a pair of normally retracted pointing dies, and means to move said pointing dies toward the gripping dies and toward each other to point the nails.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with coperating gripping dies to compress and shape the edges of a nail blank, of pointing dies positioned at right angles relative to said gripping dies to engage the top and bottom of the nail near the point thereof to compress the nail to a limited extent and means for adjusting the degree of such compression.

In a device of the character described the combination with coperating gripping dies to hold the nail blank in position during the heading and pointing operations of pointing dies to compress the point, and means to move said pointing dies to operative position and to then give said pointing dies an independent closing movement.

4. `A tool for pointing cut nails, comprising a die carrier, a pair of dies carried thereby, and die operating means carried by said die carrier to give said dies one movement to position at the top and bottom of said nail and a different movement to compress the nail point.

5. A pointing tool of the character de scribed comprising a die carrier, a pair of pivotally connected dies and a slidable controlling rod arranged to move said dies forwardly and also to give them a pivotal movement.

6. A tool for pointing cut nails comprising a centrally bored die carrier, pivoted dies, and a cam rod slidable in the bore of said die carrier, and having cam surfaces engaging the pivoted dies to give said dies a pivotal movement.

7. A pointing tool comprising a die carrier, a pair of coperating pointing dies ear ried by said die carrier and movable bodily relative thereto and movable toward each other, and a slidable operating member carried by said die carrier, to cause said cooperating dies to move forwardly and toward each other.

8. A pointing tool comprising a die carrier, a pair of pivoted pointing dies carried by said die carrier and having a limited bodily movement relative thereto, and having cam engaging surfaces, resilient means holding said dies relatively open but permitting bodily movement thereof, and means to move said dies bodily forward to their limiting position and then to give them a pivotal movement relative to each other.

9. A pointing tool comprising a die carrier, a pair of dies mounted for limited movement relative to said die carrier but pivotally connected intermediate their ends and having forward nail engaging surfaces and rear cam engaging surfaces, springs pressing the rear ends of said dies toward each other and a cam operating between the rear ends of said dies whereby forward movement of the cam first moves the dies to their forward position and then forces the rear ends apart and the nail engaging surfaces together.

10. A pointing tool comprising a die carrier, a pair of dies mounted for limited bodily movement relative to said die carrier and also for pivotal movement relative to each other, spring means holding said dies in open position, an operating rod for giving said dies bodilymoveinent relative to each other, means for adjusting the effective length of said operating rod, and spring means for returning said dies to initial position.

11. A pointing tool comprising centrally bored die carrier means for adjusting the position of said die carrier a pair of dies carried thereby, an operating rod slidably mounted in the bore of said die carrier for operating said dies, means for adjusting the effective length of said operating rod, and means for returning said rod to initial position.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with cooperating gripping dies to hold the nail blank in position during the heading and pointing operations, of a pair of pointing dies and means to cause said pointing dies to engage and disengage the nail blank held in said gripping dies to point the nail, the said means acting to o,

maintain engagement of the nail blank after its release by the gripping dies whereby the clearing of the nail from the gripping dies is insured.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. J OI-INSGN.

Witnesses:

J osnrn L. SNow, PLYNA A. EDsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, '.D. C. 

